Improvement in piano-fortes



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or YORK, Y.

' I Letters Patent No. 97 ,982, Zatcrl December 14, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN PIANO-FORTES.

The Schedule referred to-n these Letters Patent and making part of the'same To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, C. F. lr S'rnINwAY, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in liano-Fortes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in theart to make and use the same, reference being had to the aecompauyir'rg drawing, torrningpart of this specification, iri which 'drawing- Figure 1"rcpresents a. plan or top view of this 'iuvention.

Figure 2. is a longitudinal vertical4 section of the same, the line a.' x, fig.-.l, indicating the plane ot' section.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the .san-re.

Figure 4 is a transverse section of the same, taken in the plane indicated by the line 1/ y, tigri.

, Figure is aplan Vxor top view of the sounding? board detached. l

.Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.'

This 'iiry'ention relates principally to certa-in iurprovements on a. patent for an improvement in pianoforte, granted to nry brother, iVillianr SteinwayJ une 5, '1866, and numbered 55,385, which irnprovenrent was' particularly designed for upright piano-tbrtes, while the principal object ofmy present improvements is to render the invent-ion describedntheabove-named patent applicable to grand piano-ibrtes.

This improvement consists in extending the sound` ing-board bridgein au uubrokeucnrve from the trebleend to the bass-'end of an overstrung piano-forte, in sue-h a manner that 'the vibrations ot' each string are transmitted to the whole sounding-board, and thereby the fuhress and eveuness of the tone are materially improved further, in t-lre arrangement'of a. raised portion on the metal frame, in srrch a `manner that room is obtained furthe sounding-board bridge, which extends in an unbroken curve fr m thc treble-end of the piano-forte to the bass-end; also, in the arrangement of a top treble-bar passing, at the wrest-plank end of the metal frame, over a series ottr'eble-strirrgs, and at the bass-cud between a number ot' bass-strings, in such a manner that the strain and leverage exerted by the strings hitched to the top ot' said bar, arecounteracted by the strain of the strings passing through under it, and the quality of the instrument to retain its tune is materially improved; further, in the arrangement of a semicylindrical edge at the closed parts of the metal trarne, in such a manner that in the connection of the top and bottom part ol' said metal fra-nies, the greatest possible strength is preserved, and thereby, and by avoiding sharprcorners in the metal frame, the tone of the instrument is' improved ;1 also, in the arrangement of connecting-bearers or braces, extending from the bottom plate of the metal frame under the tuning-block extension of the top plate of said metal frame, and provided with shoulders to support that edge ofthe sounding-board which extends across the keys, in such a manner that room for the action of the mechanism, and also a tir-ur support for the -tuning-block and sounding-board, are obtained, without breaking the connection between the top and bottom plates ot' the metal frame; further, in thearrangement of blocks, which rise from the bottom ot' the woodeucase ot' a piano-forte, through openings in the bottom plate ofthe metal fra-me, and form the supports for the sounding-board, in combination with corresponding openings in the top plate ot the metal frame, in suc-lr a manner that easy :recess can bc. had to' the screws which serve to fasten the sounding-board down upon the blocks, and tlnrrcby the operation of securite the sournling-board .in posi'- tion is materially facilitated; also, in exposing the bottom oftiie wooden caseari, a piano-forte, together with the sounding-board, to acompressing-lbrce produced by scri-ars, wedges, wire-draws, or other suitable n'i'eimsfin such a marmer-,that by the' aetionwot' the said bottom, combined with that ot' the soundingboard, thevolurne of the tone. is materially increased; further, in`th`e' arranger'ncnt of standards or' blocks, which `rise from the bottom ot' the wooden base, and form the supports for the metal frame, in such a manner that a. firm connection between the metal frar'ne and the wooden' case can be effected, and at the same time thc bottom'of said case is prevented ti'onr conring in direct Contact with theA meta-l frame, and its vibrating power is preserved intact; also, in the arrangement ofthe braces, which extend trom the sernicylindrical edge of the metal frame to that wall of' the wooden case which is situated under the open side of the metal frame, so that by said braces the compressing-torce in this direct-ion is eounteracted; further, in the arrangement of a tlap orlid, which is-i hinged to the. bottom edge of the front piece of the wooden case, and which, when turned up, forms the support or desk of'the music, the hinges being sol pla-ced that they remain concealed when said flap is closed as well as when it is open; also, in the peculiar arrangement of the cheek-pieces of the action-frame, said cheek-pieces being tnade to catch in front overthe key'fr'ail, and in the rear over the shoulders ofthe y standards supporting the ti-ont pieces of the case, in such a manner that by removing said cheek-pieces,-

the action of the frame and the front part ofthe case are released, and the operation of taking the piano` forte apartor putting it together, is materially facilitated.

ln the drawings- The letter A designates a wooden case for a -grrrnd piarroftbrte, constructed in t-lr'e usual manner, and suppg'nted by legs l. ifrom'the bottoni C of this case, near its curved edge, rises a. series cf detached blocks, a, which, togetlier with the two strips b c, forni the supports for the meta-l frame D.

lliis metal frame is constructed on the principle described in the abovc-nlientioned Letters lalcnt, No. 55,385, being composed of a top plate, (I, and a bottom plate, c, which are united by a rim, j', leaving an open space for the reception of the, soundingboa-rd E.

The rim f of my plate, however, unlike that shown in the above-inentioned Letters latent, is semi-cylindrical, best seen in figs. 2 and 4, so that in the connection of the top and bottom plates, the greatest possible strength and firmness are obtained, and that allsharp corners` are avoided,'whereby the clearncss of the tone of my instrument is materially improved.

The sounding-board E is provided with a single bridge, l, which extends in an unbroken curve from t-lie treble-end to the bass-end, as shown in figs. 'l and 5.

By this'arrangementof the sounding-board bridge, the vibra-tions of each string arc transmitted directly to the ent-ire soiiiiding-board, and the tone of the instrument remains uniform throughout.

In order to make rooui for the biglit of the bridge F, the top plate of the metal frame is provided with a raised part,'g, which extends over the bridge, and t0 the outer edge ofv which is hitched a series of strings, s, whieh'extend through under the raised part-g, instead `of over the frame-p ate, as shown in figs. l and 2 of the drawings.

From the treble-end of the metal frame D ext-ends a top bar or rib, liv, to the bass-cud of said plate.

A series of treble-strings, s', extends through under saiiltop bar, while a series of bass-strings, s",.-is

, N "By the position of the top bar li, iuielation to the strings s s s, the niet-al frame is .enabled to sustain the strain of the several strings, and the quality 0f the instrument to retain its time is materially iniproved.

lhe metal frame D is bolted down to the blocks a and strips b c, which retain it at an elevation above the bottom ot the case A, so as to prevent the metal frame from coming in direct contact withthe bottorn, and by placing the blocks a at certa-iii distances apart, the vibrating quality of said bottom is pi'e. served.

From the bottom U rises a. series of wooden blocks or standardsl i, through apertures j in the bottom plate of the metal frame, and to these standards the sounding-board is firmly secured by screw-bolts 1.', the upper plate of the inetal frame being also provided with apertures I I, corresponding to the apertures j in the bottoni plate, so thateasy access can be had to the screw-bolts 1.-, for the purpose of fastening or untastening the souiiding-board. y

By means of the screw-bolts k and standards t', the sounding-board is tirn'ily connected to the bottom C of the case, and both the sounding-board and bottom C, together, are exposed to the compressing-force of ,set-screws lm, which are tapped in the. semi-cylindrieal edge ot' the metal frame, and bear on the sta-iidard if By this arrangement, the vibrating power of the .sounding-board and the bottom U is materially increased, the transverse vibrations ot' the edges of the sounding-board are prevented, and thereby the volurne of the tone of the instrument is improved.

scese '.lhe top plate d of the metal iaine extends at oneV end beyond the bottom plate, and to this extension is secured the tiiniiig-block H. (See fig. 2.)

Suitable braces o, which rise from the bot-toin pla-te c, serve to support and stiften the tuning-block extension of the top plate, and between these braces sufcient room is left for the introduction of theaction.

The inner edges of said braces forni shoulders or abutments, against which the. blockor strip p bears, which serves to support the front edge ot' the sounding-board.

By this arrangement a firm connection of the top and bottom plates at the front end of the metal frame is effected, withoutinterfering with the action-mechanism, and at the saine time :t firm and substantial support for tliel'ront end of the sounding-board is obtained.

The key-board ot' thel piano-forte is'covered by a. flap or lid, I, which is hinged to the lower edge of the front piece J' ol' thel case A. the hinges being so applied, that they are perfectly concealed, whereby the appearance of theinstrumcnt is materially improved.

To the inner surface ot' the tlap I is secured a strip, q, so that when said tiap is turned up, it lserves as a support for the music, and a iiiiisic-desk is thus obtained, which is superior to the ordinary music-desk on grand piano-fortes, because it brings the music in such :i position that the performer is enabled to take in, at one glance ofthe eyes, the music as well as the keys, while, with the ordinary arrangemcntof the desk, the music is placed at such au elevation .above the key-board, that the performer is cQmpelled'to turn his eyes constantly from the keys to the music, and rice rersa.

The front piece J of the case A, and the .key-rail K, are. both retained in postioii by the cheek-pieces L of the action-frame, said cheek-pieces being made to overlap the key-rail, and also a shoulder, r, on the standardst, which su )port the fr'ont piece J, so that by removing the cheek-pieces, the front piece J and the action-frame are bot-li released, and the operation of taking the instrument apart and putting it together is materially facilitated. v

The upper surfaces of the cheek-pieces L are flush with those of the side-strips M of the case, so that on each side of the key-board a spacious platform is formed for the support of lamps or other articles.

Havingthiis deseribedmy invention, I want to be distinctly understood thatI disclaim everything shown and describedl in the patent of my brother, William Steinway, dated June 5, 1866; but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, iso' 1. Extending the sounding-board bridge of an overst-riing piano-torte, iu an unbroken curve. from the treble to the bass-eiid, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. ln combination with the continuous soundingboard bridge, the arrangement of a raised part on the top plate ofthe metal frame, the strings running under the plate instead of over, substantially as set forth.

3. The treble-bar h ofthe metal fraineD, arranged, in relation to t-he strings s s substantially in the manner sho/wn and described.

4. The semi-cylindrical edge or rim f of the metal frame D, as set forth.

5. The braces o, forming the connection between the bott-om plate c ot' the metni frame. and the tunng-biock extension ot' the top plate (I, und forming shoulders or zrbntmcnts for the front edge ot the sonnding-imnrd, substantially as described.

6. The arrangement of blocks or standards i, rising from the -bottom'of the lcase A, through apertures in the bottom pinto of the metni tranne, and forming the connection between said bottom :ind sounding-board, substnntinily :is set forth.

` 'i'. subjecting the bottom of the ense A, together with the sounding-board, t0 a compressing-torce produced by screws, wedges, or other suitable devices, substantially its shown and described.

S. The detached blocks a, rising from the bottom g of the ense A, 2mdforming the supports of the metal frame D, substantially as set-forth.

9. The metal bnnds or braces n, ext-ending from the rim ,f of the metal frame to that side ofthe case which is situated under the open end ofthe metal frame, said braces serving to counteract the compressing-force of the screws or other devices vbearing on the sounding-board und bottom G ot' the case, as set forth.

C. F. TH. STEINWAY.

Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

